Ozil interested in Premier League move
Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil is a summer target of a host of Premier League sides - including Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United - and is keen on a move to England, according to reports.
The Werder Bremen midfielder has performed superbly in the World Cup, most recently in Germany’s 4-1 demolition of England last Sunday, and it would not be hard to imagine Arsene Wenger, Carlo Ancelotti or Sir Alex Ferguson being keen on signing the 21-year-old ahead of their respective Premier League and Champions League campaigns.
Ozil starred in Werder’s run to the 2009 UEFA Cup final, and has played 144 matches at club level, scoring 18 times for Bremen and former club Schalke.
Spanish daily El Mundo Deportivo claims Ozil has repeatedly rejected offers of a new contract at Werder, and with only one year remaining on his current deal that could well mean a move is hastily organised over the coming two months.
The Barcelona-based paper also suggests the Gunners may wish to seal a deal for Ozil in order to plug any gap left by the potential departure of Cesc Fabregas to Camp Nou over the summer.
However the player himself has spoken of his respect for Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, something sure to prick up the ears of those at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.
"To the top players, the Premier League is attractive,” Ozil said in The Sun.
"You look at what Manchester United and Chelsea have achieved over the last five years and you see it would be easy to be successful at two clubs like that. I see what Michael Ballack achieved at Chelsea and the quality of players he played with and the temptation becomes obvious.
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"Trophies are what matters to me. There are two teams in England always at the top and of course that's attractive"
Ballack has recently left the Blues, leaving the West London side potentially looking for a new midfield signing to play alongside the likes of Frank Lampard and Michael Essien.
The Red Devils, meanwhile, may see Ozil as the perfect long-term replacement for veteran playmaker Paul Scholes, who has just a year left on his current deal at Old Trafford and is rumoured to be considering retiring at the end of the coming season.
Gary Parkinson is a freelance writer, editor, trainer, muso, singer, actor and coach. He spent 14 years at FourFourTwo as the Global Digital Editor and continues to regularly contribute to the magazine and website, including major features on Euro 96, Subbuteo, Robert Maxwell and the inside story of Liverpool's 1990 title win. He is also a Bolton Wanderers fan.